Good Reasons : Researching and Writing Effective Arguments

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Engaging and accessible to all readers, Good Reasons is a brief, highly readable introduction to argument by two of the country's foremost rhetoricians.

By stressing the rhetorical situation and audience, this argument rhetoric avoids complicated schemes and terminology in favor of providing students with the practical means to find "good reasons" to argue for the positions they take.

Good Reasons helps students read, analyze, and write various types of arguments, including visual, verbal, and written. Supporting the authors' instruction are readings by professional and student writers and over 75 visuals.

Good Reasons is distinctive for its discussion of why people write arguments, its coverage of rhetorical analysis and visual analysis in a brief format, its close attention to reading arguments, and its thorough attention to research.

PART 1 Reading and Discovering Arguments

Chapter 1: Making an Effective Argument

What Exactly is an Argument?

Writing Arguments in College

Arguments as Turns in a Conversation

A Case Study: The Microcredit Debate

Think About Your Credibility

Chapter 2: Reading Arguments

Explore Controversies

Read Critically

Recognize Fallacies

Map and Summarize Arguments

Sample Student Summary

Chapter 3: Finding Arguments

Finding Arguments in Everyday Conversations

Find A Topic

Explore Your Topic

Read About Your Topic

Find Good Reasons

Find Evidence to Support Good Reasons

Chapter 4: Drafting and Revising Arguments

State and Evaluate Your Thesis

Think About Your Readers

Organize Your Argument

Write an Engaging Title and Introduction

Write a Strong Conclusion

Evaluate Your Draft

Respond to the Writing of Others

Edit and Proofread Carefully

PART 2 Analyzing Arguments

Chapter 5: Analyzing Written Arguments

What Is Rhetorical Analysis?

Build a Rhetorical Analysis

Analyze the Rhetorical Features

Analyze the Rhetorical Context

Write a Rhetorical Analysis

Steps to Writing a Rhetorical Analysis

Barbara Jordan, Statement on the Articles of Impeachment

Sample Student Rhetorical Analysis

T. Jonathan Jackson, An Argument of Reason and Passion: Barbara Jordan’s “Statement on the Articles of Impeachment”

Chapter 6: Analyzing Visual and Multimedia Arguments

What Is a Visual Argument?

What Is a Multimedia Argument?

Analyze Visual Evidence

Build a Visual Analysis

Write a Visual Analysis

Sample Student Visual Analysis

Chrissy Yao, "Use Only What You Need": The Denver Water Conservation Campaign